Laugh to Relieve Stress

While on a trip this past weekend with a friend, I was reminded again of how powerful laughter can be. She and I talked about so many important things, but we also about fell out of our chairs laughing so hard. I could feel my body let go of tension and fear, as it felt connected and seen. I was reminded that I am going to be ok because I have my friends.

There is no question about the level of stress most of us endure on a daily basis. Whether it's financial strain, relational conflict, or the news we watch, we certainly experience regular pressure both internally and externally. The good news is our bodies are designed to manage stress!

The fight or flight responses are our bodies' attempt to give us the energy we need to survive whatever lion has attacked us. They can't, however, very well differentiate between lions and tax season. So while it might be useful to have increased focus and impressive financial memory, what they gives us instead is the motivation to punch our CPAs in the gut.

In a world less physically active, our bodies are somewhat inapt to manage increased mental and emotional stress without regular physical release. This is why as a counselor I often encourage clients to find ways to regularly move their bodies.

In this interesting podcast with Emily Nagoski, Brene Brown talks about the need to complete the stress cycle in order to recover some sense of calm. One of the methods they mention is laughing! Laughing not only engages your core, but also signals to your body that the threat (whatever that might be) is at least momentarily neutralized.

What makes you laugh? Who makes you laugh?

Humor between humans and cultures is vastly different. In fact, finding someone who thinks the same things are funny is one of the ways we start to feel like we belong in a group. If you can identify the things that make you laugh, you can feed yourself more of those happiness-filled moments, as a way to remember the good and remember your own resilience. You have the ability to recover, to connect, and to find the joy of life. Your body has been equipped by your Maker to help you do just that.